1.4. Two-handed signs
In LIS, some signs are articulated with one hand only (the dominant hand), while others require the use of both hands. The use of one or two hands can be phonologically distinctive and this is demonstrated by the existence of minimal pairs showing the opposition one-handed vs. two-handed. Two examples are the pairs pleasure - clothes and rent - tea.
a. pleasure (one hand)
b. clothes (two hands)
c. rent (one hand)
d. tea (two hands)
As shown above, clothes and tea are articulated with both hands, while pleasure and rent are made with the dominant hand only.
Despite being both two-handed signs, clothes and tea differ one from the other in the following respect: the former is symmetrical, while the latter is asymmetrical. In symmetrical two-handed signs, both hands are active articulators and move in an independent location specification. In the case of clothes, both the dominant and non-dominant hand move downward on the chest. Orientation and handshape are identical in the two hands. In asymmetrical two-handed signs, only the dominant hand moves, whereas the non-dominant hand is a passive articulator functioning as place of articulation. In the case of tea, the dominant hand moves downward close to the non-dominant hand, which does not move. Moreover, the two hands also differ in terms of orientation and handshape.
Notice that, in some cases, two-handed signs may display articulatory reduction and be produced with the dominant hand only. This particular phenomenon is called weak hand drop (PHONOLOGY 3.1.4).
